Unai Emery has officially confirmed his Aston Villa starting lineup for this weekend's Premier League encounter against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The Villa boss has opted for four significant alterations from the side that suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Brentford in their previous outing.
Key Changes to the Villa Lineup
The most notable decisions see the return of several first-team regulars. Tyrone Mings and Lucas Digne are reinstated to the defensive unit, while in midfield, Amadou Onana earns a recall. Up front, the pivotal figure of Ollie Watkins leads the attack once more.
Confirmed Aston Villa Starting XI
Emi Martinez retains his place between the posts, shielded by a back four of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, the returning Tyrone Mings, and Lucas Digne. The engine room features the partnership of Amadou Onana and Douglas Luiz in a double pivot. Ahead of them, the creative trio of Emi Buendia, Jadon Sancho, and Morgan Rogers will provide support for sole striker Ollie Watkins.
The full Villa matchday squad is as follows:
- Starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Onana, Luiz; Sancho, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.
- Substitutes: Bizot, Proctor, Lindelof, Maatsen, Torres, Bogarde, Bailey, Barkley, Abraham.
Context and Recent Form
Aston Villa will be aiming to complete a league double over Bournemouth this season, having secured a convincing 4-0 victory at Villa Park back in November. Achieving this would mark the first time Villa have done the double over the Cherries in the Premier League era.
However, Emery's men approach this fixture in a patch of inconsistent form. They have lost three of their last six top-flight matches, which is as many defeats as they suffered in their first eighteen league games of the campaign. This dip highlights the challenge they face on the south coast.
The Bournemouth Challenge
The hosts present a formidable obstacle. Bournemouth have rediscovered their winning touch, securing three victories from their last four Premier League fixtures. This resurgence comes after a difficult run of eleven consecutive games without a win.
Furthermore, the Cherries have developed a reputation for upsetting the division's elite. They have won five of their last seven league matches against sides who began the matchday inside the top three positions of the table. This statistic underscores the threat they pose to Villa's ambitions.
This fixture promises to be a crucial test for both teams as they pursue their respective goals in the Premier League table. Villa's reshuffled lineup will be tasked with arresting their recent slide and overcoming a Bournemouth side brimming with confidence.
